Bulls blog post

[KirkHinrich12]

Here is my 1st post on the bulls blog, http://www.bullscentral.com/blog.htm

The Bulls are coming off 2 consecutive winning seasons and playoff apperances. Both times, they have been eliminated in the 1st round. The Bulls showed last season that they will never quit. They went into the off-season with their sites on building another dynasty. Thanks to the Eddy Curry trade, they had picks # 2 and 16 in the draft, and $20 million to spend on Free Agents. It was set to be the most succesful summer since #23 was drafted.

John Paxson, Bulls GM did not disappoint. He drafted LeMarcus Aldrigde at # 2 and traded him to Portland for the #4 pick, Tyrus Thomas, and Victor Khyrpha. He traded the # 16 pick for the rights to Thabo Shefolsha, who the Sixers drafted at #13. Many Bulls fans were excited at the draft and even more encouraged about the 2007 summer after looking at the Knicks' moves: Greg Oden.

But Paxson wasn't done. He and Scott Skiles set their sights on Ben Wallace, and went after him aggresivly, getting him on the first day free agents were allowed to sign contracts. One problem: Kirk Hinrich was due an extension this summer, and next summer Andres Nocioni, Ben Gordon, and Loul Deng will be due extensions. And w/ the signing of Ben Wallace, and Tyson Chandler's contract having 5 years and $54M, it looked like the Bulls would be tied up. And both Chandler and Wallace have no offense and are atrocius free-throw shooters. Not to worry. Paxson traded away Chandler's contract to the Hornets for P.J. Brown and J.R. Smith.

With Paxson's moves, the Bulls enter the season poised and ready to strike. I personally do not feel they can contend for a title this year, but I see no reason in 2-3 years from now why we won't win a title. Ben Wallace will do more than just be a force on defense. His defense will help take the pressure off the young guys and I think b/c of his presence on defense, Hinrich, Gordon, and Nocioni will have breakout years.

With the trade of Tyson Chandler, the final link to the Jerry Krause era was gone. This is Paxson's team now. He has done a brilliant job constructing it. Scott Skiles has done a brilliant job coaching the team. This team is in position for another dynasty. Regardless of whether or not the Bulls get Greg Oden, look for this team to be armed and dangerous for many, many years to come.[/b]